Scotland head coach Steve Clarke watched from the stand as a Scottish-eligible striker scored in the FA Cup tie between Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town on Monday night. Clarke will soon name his squad for the Nations League play-off double-header against Greece later this month which will determine whether Scotland retain League A status or drop to League B. Back-to-back victories over Croatia and Poland in November secured third spot in Group A1 and earned Scotland a final shot at avoiding relegation from the competition's top tier. Clarke has been hit by a number of injuries ahead of facing the Greeks with Lyndon Dykes, Ben Doak, Ryan Christie and Lewis Morgan all doubts after picking up knocks in recent weeks, potentially opening the door for new faces in the squad. One uncapped talent who could be on the cusp of a maiden call-up is Ipswich striker George Hirst. The 26-year-old has suffered an injury-disrupted campaign, making just one start and 14 substitute appearances in the Premier League so far this season. He suffered a knee injury in pre-season which required keyhole surgery and saw him miss the start of the campaign. He returned in September, and scored on his first and only EPL start to date in a 4-3 defeat at Brentford, only to pick up another knee injury in November which kept him out until mid-January. Hirst, who was born in England but qualifies for Scotland through a grandparent, was handed his second start of the season in the 4-1 win at Coventry in the FA Cup fourth round last month, and scored again, this time from the penalty spot. He was back in the starting line-up for the FA Cup last 16 clash against Forest at the City Ground on Monday night and made it three goals in three starts this season in front of the watching Clarke with a back post header from a corner putting Ipswich ahead in the 54th minute to give the Scotland boss food for thought ahead of naming his squad in the coming week. Hopes of a quarter-final berth for Hirst and Ipswich were dashed, however, when Forest levelled 15 minutes later through Ryan Yates before going on to win the tie 5-4 on penalties, by which time Hirst had been substituted. Hirst initially joined Ipswich on loan from Leicester City in January 2023 before making the move permanent six months later. Prior to that he had loan spells at Rotherham, Portsmouth and Blackburn. He also spent a season in Belgium with OH Leuven after starting his career at Sheffield Wednesday. His career totals stand at 50 goals and 22 assists and 211 appearances. A former England international from Under 17 through to Under 20 level, could Hirst be set to switch allegience to Scotland? Quizzed on the matter back in November, he said: “It is something I am never going to rule out. Everybody wants to play at the highest level possible wherever that is." Scotland travel to Greece for the Nations League play-off first leg on Thursday, March 20 before hosting the return leg at Hampden Park on Sunday, March 23.